Riss and Brennan added to Bonanza line-up

GERMAN star Erik Riss has become the third home rider to be announced for the Ben Fund Bonanza individual meeting at Oxford Stadium on Sunday, March 23 (6pm) – while another additional is Ipswich’s Tom Brennan.

Of the six names revealed so far, three ride for either the BetGoodwin Oxford Spires or the SD Timmo Car Sales Oxford Cheetahs. Riss joins Spires’ team-mate Charles Wright in the line-up, while Cheetahs are represented by skipper Sam Masters.

Sandy Lane is hosting the 15th staging of the annual event, which raises money for both long-term and short-term injured riders via the Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund.

Erik Riss – who returns for a second successive season for Spires in 2025 – is making his Bonanza debut, although he would have been in the Workington meeting last year had it not been rained off and he was unavailable for the re-staging in July.

The German was quite clear about why he is so keen to take part.

He said: “I hadn’t really expected to get the assistance I did when I had problems with illness in 2023. They contacted me and they were a great help to me.

“The Ben Fund must be the only organisation of its kind in world speedway. I know that as a foreign rider in this country still being able to get help when things happen is incredible. I hope by being in the meeting I can help them raise what they need so that other riders can also get the support when they need it.”

Brennan has ridden twice in the event and scored 12 points on each occasion, finishing third in 2023.

He’s currently in Australia and was enjoying an evening meal with Justin Sedgmen when he said: “I will always be keen to do the Bonanza. It’s important to me to try to repay what they’ve done for me, a no-brainer really.”

Anyone wish to take up any of the sponsorships available for the Bonanza for riders, tyres, fuel and mascot opportunities plus adverts in the programme should contact Stephanie Babb on [email protected]

Ben Fund Bonanza line-up so far:

Charles Wright (Oxford Spires and Redcar)

Erik Riss (Oxford Spires and Redcar)

Sam Masters (Oxford Cheetahs and Leicester)

Danny King (Ipswich and Redcar)

Jason Doyle (Ipswich)

Tom Brennan (Ipswich)